Human Genetics Alert

PRESS RELEASE

For immediate release September 7th 2000

CAHGE Applauds European criticism of British Government
There will be no 'free vote on cloning'

The Campaign Against Human Genetic Engineering1 welcomes the
European Parliament's (EP) criticism of the Blair government's position on human
cloning 2. The EP said that the government was employing 'linguistic
sleight of hand to to erode the moral significance of human cloning'. It
says that creating an embryo purely for research 'irreversibly crosses a
boundary' and is contrary to EU policy 3. The resolution
encourages the use of adult stem cells as an alternative to
cloning.

CAHGE adds that the government has deceived the public and
even the EP by suggesting there will be a free vote creating embryos by
cloning. In fact Parliament will only vote on the less controversial issue
of the purposes for embryo research, after no more than a 90 minute
debate. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority is now free to
allow scientists to clone embryos, since the law does not actually forbid
this. Thus the government has avoided allowing MPs to vote on the the key
issue that concerns the public.

CAHGE's coordinator, Dr. David King said: "Cloning embryos degrades their moral status and risks some US entrepreneur cloning a baby. The government should allow a proper Parliamentary debate on this key moral issue."

Notes for editors

1. The Campaign Against Human
Genetic Engineering is a watchdog group focusing on issues related to human
genetics and related technologies. CAHGE is not opposed to genetics research in
principle, but is absolutely opposed to human cloning and germ line genetic
engineering. CAHGE is not a 'pro-life' organisation.